The Secret Life of Bees, is a about fourteen year old white girl, Lily Owens, who has grown up in an abusive home with her father, T-Ray. As a young girl Lily's mother had died and she was left with her father and her black nanny Rosaleen. Though growing up in the south, Lily still does not fully understand the differences between blacks and whites. In fact, she is rather ignorant in this situation. She knows that whites are more superior than the blacks but she does not fully understand why. As she grows up, Lily learns more about life and her ownself.
Lily Owens is not your typical teenage girl, in fact she is everything but. As a young girl, Lily's mother had died so therefore she never had a mother to teach her the proper way to be a young lady. Instead, she was brought up in an abusive home, T-Ray, Lily's father, was an abusive man who loved the feeling of power. He strived to hold power over Lily. One little mistake, and Lily was on the ground eating grits like a dog. Lily, however, managed to stay strong, and never lost faith in anything.
Throughout the book, Lily matures and learns that although many people think blacks are different because of skin color, they really aren't. They are just like us and Lily grows to love them like they were her own family. The character of Lily Owens, is the kind of character that is somewhat blind to what goes on in the world, but being around the right people, her eyes are opened.
Lily Owens is not your typical teenage girl, in fact she is everything but. As a young girl, Lily's mother had died so therefore she never had a mother to teach her the proper way to be a young lady. Instead, she was brought up in an abusive home, T-Ray, Lily's father, was an abusive man who loved the feeling of power. He strived to hold power over Lily. One little mistake, and Lily was on the ground eating grits like a dog. Lily, however, managed to stay strong, and never lost faith in anything.
Throughout the book, Lily matures and learns that although many people think blacks are different because of skin color, they really aren't. They are just like us and Lily grows to love them like they were her own family. The character of Lily Owens, is the kind of character that is somewhat blind to what goes on in the world, but being around the right people, her eyes are opened.